Allan, Dolphins primed to take on world

BENDIGO’S Henry Allan has been picked to be part of a world-first Australia versus The World swimming meet.

The one-night only invitational event at the Valley Pool in Brisbane on 12 December will pit the Australian Dolphins against some of the world’s best.

Allan, whose home swimming club is Bendigo East, will join the likes of world champions and Olympic gold medallists Kaylee McKeown, Cam, McEvoy and Mollie O’Callaghan in the Dolphins team.

Great Britain’s Olympic gold medallist Duncan Scott, Italy’s Olympic gold medallist Thomas Ceccon and Netherlands’ world champion Marrit Steenbergen will spearhead The World line-up.

Backstroke specialist Allan’s selection in the Dolphins team was confirmed by Swimming Australia last week.

It follows the 17-year-old’s standout performance at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania in late-August, in which he reached two finals.

Allan placed fourth in both the 100m backstroke (54.25) and 50m backstroke (25.14), after qualifying strongly through heats and semis.

He also competed in the 200m backstroke, placing 31st in 2:06.49.

Allan, who is in Year 11 at Girton Grammar, secured his spot on the Junior Dolphins team in Romania after winning five gold medals and setting a pair of new records at the Australian Age Championships in Brisbane in May this year.

He set a new record time in the 50m backstroke (24:88) and also became the first Australian 16-year-old to go sub-54 seconds in the 100m backstroke.

The Australia versus The World showdown is a precursor to an exciting race calendar over the next few years, as the Dolphins look to compete on home turf more frequently in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

The event will also include world first racing over 25m after the success of a test event at the recent Australian Short Course Championships in Melbourne.

Swimming Australia CEO Rob Woodhouse said the new event was a key part of a strategy designed to help the Dolphins to connect with the community, showcase talent, and inspire Australians through a series of high-profile events.

“Australia v The World is the first of these events. It’s part of a new calendar designed to give fans more access to the Dolphins, with a format built around close racing and entertainment,” he said.

Australia v The World will be broadcast on prime-time television.

The Bendigo East Swimming Club is vowing to be ‘cheering loud and proud for Allan and the rest of the Australian team’ on 12 December.